Monday, August 13, 2012

Akron Aeros

photo courtesy of Snips92

You’d think that with Star Wars Celebration VI just
over a week away, that this would be the time when everyone would be taking it
easy, maybe finishing up some last minute costume projects and overall
conserving our resources for a roadtrip to Orlando? Yeah, not so much!

In fact, it’s because of CVI that we had to move the date for the second annual
Akron Aeros“Star Wars Night” to early August – and were forced to miss the
Akron Children’s Hospital Summer Festival that was part of last year’s
event.Thankfully, the Akron Aeros were
able to get the custom “Star Wars” baseball jerseys approved for this year’s
game -- with proceeds from the silent auction going to (where else) Akron
Children’s Hospital.

Once that was settled, it was time for Great Lakes
Base, Mando Mercs and Ohio Garrison to once again descend upon Canal Park
(Akron, Ohio) for another year of “Star Wars” themed baseball! This year, it
was Sheikachika’s turn (as Princess Leia) to throw out the opening pitch -- you may
remember her “brother” BrianKenobi (Luke Skywalker) threw out the ceremonial
fastball across home plate. Once the game got started, it would seem “the Force”
was with the Akron Aeros -- as they lit up the New Hampshire Fisher Cats by a
score of 8-3.

Thanks to some “aggressive negotiations” by Snips92 --
negotiations with a pen, rather than a lightsaber -- we managed to WIN one of
the Akron Aeros “Star Wars” baseball jersey auctions. Afterwards, everyone took
turns posing for pictures holding the jersey -- it was like our own championship
trophy, being passed around the players to celebrate.

And as if the Aeros did not display enough firepower
during the game, the team hosted a special “Star Wars Fireworks” show -- all done
to selections of John Williams’ music from the Star Wars films. Being on the
field during the fireworks is sort of the icing on the cake for us.Several of us stayed in costume for the
fireworks, lightsaber dueling with our friends at night, fireworks going off
over our heads and the music of John Williams filling our ears and hearts with
everything that makes Star Wars just so awesome!

Speaking of John Williams, did you know this year is his 80th
birthday? Well, the Cleveland Orchestra does, guess this weekend is a “double-header”
for us!